Through The Lens Of The Interviewer

When a job seeker is sitting the across the table from a hiring manager or HR representative, what exactly are they looking for? For you, your hope and desire is that they like you and they pick you over all the other people competing for the job. But that is not what the hiring manager is thinking.

First, most hiring managers are frustrated with the hiring process. Many of them are overworked and stressed about their responsibilities and they don’t want to invest their time interviewing people who are not qualified to come into their organization. They want to get through the interviews as quickly as possible and get back to managing the issues they face daily in the organization.

Your assignment when you sit in front of a hiring manager or HR representative is to ensure that you are prepared. Prepared to illustrate through stories about who you are and what you will bring to the table and the value you might bring their organization.

The hiring manager has one goal in mind – they are determined to hire the RIGHT PERSON for the job. They are looking for qualified candidates who are self-starters. Hiring managers are looking for people that know how to solve problems. They are looking at your skills, your experience, organizational fit. Will you fit into this organization? This question of fit is not based on something objective. It’s about their gut. It’s about personality and it’s about people and projects that are already in process within the organization. Will you fit with their current team?

If you can look through the lens of the interviewer and see the world from their perspective it should change the way you prepare for your next interview. Take some time to study the person, the organization before accepting an interview.

Imaage Credit: sxc.hu